1 - 194 DIMENSIONS AND PROPERTIES

Table 1-17.
Steel Pipe and Tubing
Dimensions and Weight Tolerances
Round Tubing and Pipe (see also Table 1-4)

ASTM A53
Weight—The weight of the pipe as specified in Table X2 and Table X3 (ASTM Specification
A53) shall not vary by more than ±10 percent.
Note that the weight tolerance of ±10 percent is determined from the weights of the cus-
tomary lifts of pipe as produced for shipment by the mill, divided by the number of feet of
pipe in the lift. On pipe sizes over four inches where individual lengths may be weighed, the
weight tolerance is applicable to the individual length.
Diameter—For pipe two inches and over in nominal diameter, the outside diameter shall not
vary more than ±1 percent from the standard specified.
Thickness—The minimum wall thickness at any point shall not be more than 12.5 percent
under the nominal wall thickness specified.
ASTM 500
Diameter—For pipe two inches and over in nominal diameter, the outside diameter shall not
vary more than ±0.75 percent from the standard specified.
Thickness—The wall thickness at any point shall not be more than 10 percent under or over
the nominal wall thickness specified.
ASTM A501 and ASTM 618
Outside dimensions—For round hot-formed structural tubing two inches and over in nominal
size, the outside diameter shall not vary more than ±1 percent from the standard specified.
Weight (A501 only)—The weight of structural tubing shall be less than the specified value by
more than 3.5 percent.
Mass (A618 only)—The mass of structural tubing shall not be less than the specified value
by more than 3.5 percent.
Length—Structural tubing is commonly produced in random mill lengths and in definite cut
lengths. When cut lengths are specified for structural tubing, the length tolerances shall be in
accordance with the following table:

Over 22 to
22 ft and under 44 ft, incl.

Over Under Over Under

Length tolerance for specified cut lengths, in. 1⁄ 1⁄ 3⁄ 1⁄

2 4 4 4

Straightness—The permissible variation for straightness of structural tubing shall be 1⁄8-in.

times the number of feet of total length divided by 5. Continued on next page

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION

STANDARD MILL PRACTICE 1 - 195

Table 1-17 (cont.).

Steel Pipe and Tubing
Dimensions and Weight Tolerances
Square and Rectangular Tubing (see also Table 1-4)

ASTM A500 and ASTM A618

Outside Dimensions—The specified dimensions, measured across the flats at positions at
least two inches from either end-of-square or rectangular tubing and including an allowance
for convexity or concavity, shall not exceed the plus and minus tolerance shown in the follow-
ing table:
a
Largest Outside Dimension Across Flats, in. Tolerance Plus an Minus, in.

21⁄2 and under 0.020

Over 21⁄2 to 31⁄2, incl. 0.025
Over 31⁄2 to 51⁄2, incl. 0.030
Over 51⁄2 1 percent
aThe respective outside dimension tolerances
include the allowances for convexity and concavity.

Lengths—Structural tubing is commonly produced in random lengths, in multiple lengths, and

in definite cut lengths. When cut lengths are specified for structural tubing, the length toler-
ances shall be in accordance with the following table:

22 ft and under Over 22 to 44 ft, incl.

Over Under Over Under

Length tolerance for specified cut lengths, in. 1⁄ 1⁄ 3⁄ 1⁄

2 4 4 4

Mass (A618 only)—The mass of structural tubing shall not be less than the specified value
by more than 3.5 percent.
Straightness—The permissible variation for straightness of structural tubing shall be 1⁄8-in.
times the number of feet of total length divided by five.
Squareness of sides—For square or rectangular structural tubing, adjacent sides may devi-
ate from 90 degrees by a tolerance of plus or minus two degrees maximum.
Radius of corners—For square or rectangular structural tubing, the radius of any outside cor-
ner of the section shall not exceed three times the specified wall thickness.
Twists—The tolerances for twist or variation with respect to axial alignment of the section, for
square and rectangular structural tubing, shall be as shown in the following table:

Specified Dimension of Longest Side, in. Maximum Twist per 3 ft of Length, in.

11⁄2 and under 0.050

Over 11⁄2 to 21⁄2, incl. 0.062
Over 21⁄2 to 4, incl. 0.075
Over 4 to 6 incl. 0.087
Over 6 to 8, incl. 0.100
Over 8 0.112

Twist is measured by holding down one end of a square or rectangular tube on a flat sur-
face plate with the bottom side of the tube parallel to the surface plate and noting the height
that either corner, at the opposite end of the bottom side of the tube, extends above the sur-
face plate.
Wall thickness (A500 only)—The tolerance for wall thickness exclusive of the weld area shall
be plus and minus 10 percent of the nominal wall thickness specified. The wall thickness is
to be measured at the center of the flat.

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF STEEL CONSTRUCTION